The Gospel Coalition

This is the most disturbing footage / documentary of September 11 that I have come across. The amateur video provides a chilling look into the terror experienced by the eye-witnesses that day. If you only have a couple of minutes, watch Video 1 (below) from minute 12 until minute 15.

(HT: Kyle McDanell)

Seven links for your weekend reading:

1. The Generosity Paradox: “If you are not generous, you’ve never really experienced the Gospel. If you feel guilty about how little generosity you show, you don’t understand the Gospel.”

2. Videos of Mark Dever and Jim Wallis conversing about the gospel and social justice

3. NYT: Forget what you know about good study habits

4. Weekly Standard: There Goes the Neighborhood – Rage against the breeders (a movement that has become increasingly militant in recent years: the childfree.)

5. Seth Godin on loyalty: Loyalty can be rewarded, but loyalty usually comes from within, from a story we like to tell ourselves.

6. Carl Trueman writes about the important theologian Gregory of Nazianzus: Turbulent Priests – The Theologian, The Theologian on Theology. These posts are well worth reading as an accessible introduction to this church father.

7. Fascinating review of a book about the making of icons

If you’ve seen the news this week, you’ve heard of the church in Gainesville, FL planning to burn copies of the Koran this weekend. Terry Jones’ bonfire has dominated news coverage, fueling the fires (pun intended) of Muslim-Christian conflict leading up to September 11.

At the outset, let me be clear. Christians create and critique books; we don’t burn them. We have always been on the front lines of increasing literacy, that we might open the world of books (and especially the Bible) to everyone everywhere. The actions of this tiny church in Florida do not represent the views of the vast majority of Christians.

The frustrating part of this story is the fact that it is a story. It tells us very little about how evangelicals view their Muslim neighbors and very much about the media’s willingness to seize any opportunity to create and maintain chaos.

Think about it. Is this church’s actions going to cause conflict between Muslims and Christians? Yes. But only because newspapers and TV talking heads blew up the story for the world to see.

Is the imagery of Koran-burning going to hurt the perception of American Christians in other parts of the world? Absolutely. But only because the news media has asked that question and seared that picture into our imagination. Even if the church decided to call off the bonfire, the damage is already done.

In a day of 24/7 news, journalists feel constant pressure to stay on top of stories like this, even if they are manufactured and promoted by other news outlets. How could they keep from reporting this story, especially when they had the chance to increase sympathy for Muslims, heap scorn on evangelicals, and cause conflict before September 11? It was the perfect story to accomplish all three tasks.

When I think about the obligatory condemnations coming from military commanders, politicians and leaders, I shake my head at how much time and energy has been wasted here. If Saddleback Church were burning books, you’d have a story. But traveling to the fringe and honoring such actions with this much media attention only exacerbates the problem and causes other fringe groups to try the same tactics.

(By the way, does anyone notice that whenever radical Muslims act out journalists are quick to remind us that most Muslims are not this way? And yet when fringe Christian groups do silly things, journalists use the occasion to take a swipe at evangelicals?)

Regardless of the media’s creation of this story, evangelicals need to remember that it’s not book burning that brings lasting change; it’s the gospel. And the gospel is spread not by fanning the flames of hatred toward those in false religions, but by churches proclaiming good news and demonstrating this news through self-sacrifice and love.

Much more effective than the book-burning antics of a tiny church is the testimony of men and women who choose to surrender their bodies to the flames of persecution rather than deny the One who has redeemed them. Christ calls us to lay our lives on the altar, not someone else’s books.

Americans are missing out on friendship:

Americans, plugged in and on the move, are confiding in their pets, their computers, and their spouses. What they need is to rediscover the value of friendship.

Top global cities:

We are at a global inflection point. Half the world’s population is now urban — and half the world’s most global cities are Asian.

Scot McKnight on The Writing Life:

It’s not glamorous; it’s lonely; it’s everyday; it’s a disciplined habit. At the end of the day you might have very little to show for it. Some weeks are unproductive. But after a decade or two, you wander past a bookshelf in a bookstore and say to yourself amongst other browsers, “I wrote that.”

Need to laugh? Take a look at the picture below of Rick Warren and Ed Stetzer, and then click here to see the captions people came up with. (This is the contest winner: With plastic-rimmed glasses, an untucked dress shirt, a bottle of water, two goatees and a satisfyingly awkward side hug, Rick Warren and Ed Stetzer break a new record for “Most Stuff Christians Like Crammed Into One Photo.”)

Today I have the privilege of posting a conversation with Bob Russell, senior minister of Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) for forty years until he retired in 2006. Southeast is the sixth largest church in America, and the church’s leadership transition has been exemplary.

I believe we can learn a lot from Bob Russell, one of the most humble and genuine men I have met in ministry. I’m grateful he would take the time to stop by and discuss his new book, Transition Plan: 7 Secrets Every Leader Needs to Know, and why pastors and churches should take responsibility for training the next generation of leaders.

Trevin Wax: It seems like many evangelical megachurches are built around powerful personalities and charismatic leaders. You write about how an inordinate focus on the leader of the church can be dangerous. You write:

“Is this church built on the pastor, or is it really built on Jesus Christ? When Bob Russell is gone, will the church continue to grow and mature; or is this a personality cult that will fade away?”

How did these kinds of questions shape your plans for transitioning Southeast Christian Church?

Bob Russell: Those questions motivated me to expedite the transition plan.  If we were building a personality cult, we needed to be honest and make necessary adjustments ASAP.

Those questions also helped me to stand firm when some “friends” would suggest I shouldn’t be gone from the pulpit so often.  The church needed to continue to function regardless of who was preaching.

Asking those questions also motivated me to be very open and transparent with the congregation long in advance of my actual retirement. Some would advise against that because it could result in a, “lame duck” leader.  But I think it served as a reminder to the congregation that Christ is the head of the church.  It also gave them a sense of security that we had planned for the future and the church was built on a solid foundation.

Trevin Wax: You mention your admiration of W.A. Criswell’s ministry at First Baptist in Dallas, and yet you also sought to learn from the problems that came up after he retired. What are some of the lessons you learned from Criswell’s mistakes?

Bob Russsell: I had an opportunity early in my ministry to meet Dr. Criswell when we both spoke at the same conference.  I found him to be a captivating personality and a dynamic Christian leader.

When I read Joel Gregory’s book, Too Great a Temptation: The Seductive Power of America’s Super Church, I realized I realized I was just getting one side of the story. However, I was impressed with how difficult it is for a long-term pastor to release the leadership role.  That’s understandable because so much of his heart and soul has been poured into that ministry.

But the difficulty they had at First Baptist stemmed in part from the fact that Dr. Criswell never set an exact date for his departure.  It kept being delayed. That illustrated the need to set a timetable and stick with it.  That’s only fair to the successor and it makes the transition easier for the one leaving.

It also seemed that there was poor communication between Gregory and Criswell.  The successor needs constant “insider information”.  It was also evident from reading Gregory’s book that it’s important that the departing minister’s wife and family endorse the program. There should not be any animosity or resentment.

I was also reminded of the importance of the departing minister to leave and get out of the way of his successor.

Trevin Wax: About your wife being on board with the transition… You say that one of the things you would’ve done differently would have been to spend more time unpacking this decision with your wife. How does this kind of transition affect the pastor’s family?

Bob Russell: Any retirement is going to impact the spouse, but the wife of a pastor is going to be impacted to a much greater degree than others because she is so closely involved in the ministry.  That’s where she attends church and that’s where she serves the Lord.  In most cases the pastor’s wife receives a good portion of her identity and self worth from her relationships and contribution at church.  She is respected as the preacher’s wife.

The prospect of the pastor transitioning out naturally creates uncertainty and some insecurity in the spouse.  The pastor’s wife is not only concerned about the possibility of having her husband “under her feet” all day; she is concerned about the dramatic changes that will take place in her routine and her sense of significance:

• Where will she go to church?
• What will she do with her time?
• Will she be separated from her friends?

There are a number of unanswered questions that can create uneasiness on the part of the pastor’s wife. That’s why it’s wise for the pastor to involve his wife in the transition plan from the very beginning.

Trevin Wax: In your book, you write about retirement this way:

“Our retirement from any occupation should not be regarded as a time of indulgence but a time of service.”

This view of retirement is counter-cultural and distinctly Christian. How have your post-retirement years opened up other avenues of service to the kingdom?

Bob Russell: This last chapter of my life has been one of the most gratifying.  There have been many opportunities for service without nearly as much pressure as I had in a located ministry.

Because of the experience at Southeast and my years of service many younger preachers have sought my counsel and I have enjoyed that role.  In addition to traveling and speaking at churches and leadership retreats, I’ve conducted over thirty “mentoring retreats” for pastors, produced Bible Study DVD’s for small groups, written a weekly column for The Lookout magazine and taken two overseas mission trips.

It’s been good to spend time doing what I love to do in ministry and seldom attending meetings, doing administrative work, writing letters, dealing with staff issues and other necessities of being a mega church minister that I didn’t enjoy much.

Trevin Wax: I’m thankful for the way that you and your church have exemplified a humble and Christ-like transition of leadership. In conclusion, why do you recommend that pastors and church leaders develop a transition plan? And what do you hope this book will accomplish?

Bob Russell: I hope this book will motivate senior ministers and church leaders to take the initiative to develop a wise transition plan that fits their particular situation.  It’s doubtful that our experience will serve as a cookie-cutter model for any congregation because each circumstance is difference.  It was our intent in writing the book that our experience will stimulate thought, discussion and action on the part of our readers so that the Lord’s will can continue to be accomplished as the baton of leadership is passed smoothly from one generation to the next.

A transition plan is healthy for the entire church.

• It gives the congregation a sense of security and reminds them that the focus is on Christ and not the minister.
• It’s healthy for the senior pastor – it humbles him by reminding him that he is mortal and that while Christ’s Church will continue on his ministry is temporary.
• It’s healthy for gifted associate ministers because they experience more responsible roles and become better trained leaders.
• It’s healthy for the church’s elders, deacons and lay leaders because it forces them to think long-term rather than just focusing on the immediate crises.
• It’s a positive testimony to the community because they see wise leadership principles applied.

A local judge who is not a member of our church told me two years after I retired, “I admired your ministry from afar, but what I’ve admired most is the way you left.”  The unchurched watch carefully to see if the church is an ego trip or if it really seeks to glorify God.

How to Start the Gospels – Fred Sanders (I loved the way Sanders compares and contrasts the openings of the four Gospels):

It’s like when kids are fighting back and forth with a “times two,” “oh yeah, times four,” “oh yeah,” and then one of them the Infinity Card. “Oh yeah, times INFINITY.” Once the infinity card is exposed, the game is kind of over.

Less than meets the eye. Use some commonsense when it comes to the arguments people make:

All of us can make strong sounding arguments that, upon closer inspection, are much less than meets the eye. We employ rhetorical strategies that look impressive (and often work) but contain hidden assumptions and flimsy reasoning. Here are six common arguments (or approaches to argumentation) that can stop us in our tracks, but are actually less impressive than they seem.

David Brooks from the New York Times writes about David Platt and his book Radical:

Platt’s arguments are old, but they emerge at a postexcess moment, when attitudes toward material life are up for grabs. His book has struck a chord. His renunciation tome is selling like hotcakes. Reviews are warm. Leaders at places like the Southern Baptist Convention are calling on citizens to surrender the American dream.

Who’s who in the blogosphere? Here is an infographic sharing a bit of information about blogging and bloggers. (HT: Challies)

Special thanks to Robbie Sagers for filling in here at Kingdom People last week as my family enjoyed a few late-summer days of rest. I enjoyed looking ahead in the Drafts to see what Robbie was planning to post. Thinking about how bloggers can schedule posts on WordPress got me thinking about the different ways that writers do their work. In my experience, I’ve come across three types of writers:

1. The Microwave Writer: writing well under pressure.

Some writers do well under the pressure of a deadline. They’re like a microwave. Put the ingredients together and – zap! – you’ve got a meal.

How do you know if you’re a microwave writer? Think back to when you were in college. Did you wait until the week the essay was due before beginning work? Perhaps you gathered some materials together beforehand, but you saved the writing part of your work until the night before the due date.

Microwave writers may try to get a head start, but they find they can’t summon the necessary passion. Their best work is done under the gun. Once you know you have mere days (or hours) before you need to deliver a finished product, your adrenalin kicks in. Streams of creativity pour forth from your moistened brow.

I know writers who belong to this category, but I’m not one of them. I tend to question the quality of my work if I haven’t left some built-in reflection time about what I’ve written. Pressure helps me only if the deadline is self-imposed and not “real.” (More on that momentarily…)

2. The Crockpot Writer: writing slowly over a long period of time.

Other writers are like a crockpot. They put all their ideas into the pot and let them stew over time.

Each day, they write a few paragraphs. Their work schedule is consistent. Once they have a deadline, they divide the workload into manageable chunks so they can maintain a reasonable pace.

I have a friend who fits this category. He has been working on his manuscript for more than a year now. His book won’t be very long, but I trust it will be very good.

The crockpot slow-but-consistent method works well for some writers, but not for me. It draws out the writing part of the process, and frankly, I don’t particularly enjoy the writing part of writing. I like writing because I like ideas. Writing is the method by which I communicate those ideas. Putting pen to paper doesn’t thrill me; putting ideas down for others to discuss does.

3. The Stir Fry Writer: writing quickly at the outset, leaving time for appropriate seasoning

This is me. I’m a stir-fry guy. Pour all the ingredients into the pan. Heat them up quickly, but then give the meat and vegetables time to soften.

I blog this way. I may write three or four posts in one day. But putting the ingredients into the pan doesn’t mean the meal is ready to be set on the table. I need time for the ideas to cook, for the writing to be seasoned. And time also gives me veto power so I can toss out overcooked posts and start over if I realize my idea isn’t worth sharing.

I also write books this way. In May, when I found out that I had a September 1 deadline approaching for my next book, I self-imposed a deadline of July 4 for a full manuscript to be ready. The self-imposed deadline worked well for me. I finished an initial draft in several weeks, but I had a full month to mold that initial burst of writing into something publishable. I then spent one more month tweaking and seasoning the publishable product into something I could be happy with.

What about you?

Some writers need a deadline to push them to action. Others need to space out their work over a long period of time. For me, it’s best to make serious progress up front and give myself plenty of time to work out the kinks later.

What about you? Do you fit one of these descriptions? Or would you describe yourself differently? How do you work best?

Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. is under fire for her pro-life views:

King, herself, says in a response: “It is absolutely ludicrous that abortion supporters would accuse a blood relative of Dr. King of hijacking the King legacy. My dad and my uncle gave their lives to ensure that the day would come when blacks would be judged not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character. If they were here, I know they would stand with me in this fight for the lives of those most vulnerable among us,” she added.

Interesting discussion. Dane Ortlund compiles a variety of responses to the question “What’s the key to healthy Christian growth in godliness?” Michael Bird comments on the responses, wondering if perhaps we are marginalizing biblical imperatives:

My concern is that some are beginning to replace the imperative element in Christian sanctification (i.e., the need to diligently prosecute, pursue, and cultivate holiness and godliness) with the need for more knowledge of the indicative (i.e., believing more in the grace of God)

Joe Carter lists the 50 most influential religious figures in American history.

Neighbors to the nations – an interview with Jeremy Haskins

One of the questions I’ve encountered while writing a book on the gospel is whether or not I should create a new diagram that would help present the gospel to an unbeliever. Though I’ve had a few possible diagrams come to mind, I’ve decided against creating a new formula. Instead, I’d like to point readers to gospel presentations that introduce people to Jesus in a way that keeps the Bible’s grand narrative at the forefront.

A few months ago, I wrote about some recent approaches to “storied evangelism” and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of each. One of the approaches I recommend, The Story, is being promoted by a variety of pastors and church leaders (David Platt, J.D. Greear, Ed Stetzer, Alvin Reid, etc.) . Check out their promo video below.

“The Story” Promotional Video from The Story (ViewTheStory.com) on Vimeo.